Bertram TX

Bertram TX is a charming little town of approximately 1300 people. Nowadays, the town is most famous for the annual Oatmeal Festival and for its train depot that services Burnet flyer passengers every weekend on their vintage train ride through the Hill Country. This quiet, charming little town is now known for the quality of life and strong sense of community it offers its citizens.

Bertram was founded 1882 when the Austin and Northwestern Railroad Company, was organized and chartered. Bertram prospered for a number of years with the arrival of the train depot and thriving cotton industry. The Great Depression ended the years of prosperity, and many local residents left the area. However, in recent years, the community began rebounding and restored its historic train depot that serves as an entry portal for weekend visitors taking the vintage steam train to the town.

The annual Oatmeal Festival began in 1977 as a spoof of the large number of chili festivals that were held by small towns attempting to draw in visitors. Bertram had been left off the map by the state map-makers, so the good natured townspeople of Bertram created this humorous way to get back on the map! This fun festival has stood the test of time, and is now a strongly rooted community event that takes place every year the weekend before Labor Day. Festivities include a delicious barbeque, games, fun run, Ms. Oatmeal pageant, community parade and pet parade. In addition to giving folks a reason to have a good time, the event is a solid fundraiser for community projects and scholarships.

On Sundays, the Bertram Flyer Steam Train chugs into town for a visit to the carefully restored train depot. The train ride is a three hour round-trip is a real treat as passengers step back in railroad time!